Laud living heroes: Malinga

Brenda Phiri Herald Reporter Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Cde Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga, says Zimbabweans should celebrate the heroes that contribute to the growth of the nation while they are still alive.Speaking during the recent Zimbabwe Music Awards handover ceremony, whose theme was “Celebrating Leadership through Music,” Malinga said people should desist from the tendency of acknowledging heroes only after they pass on.

“I support (Zima) chairman Joseph Nyadzayo’s vision of celebrating his Excellency President Mugabe’s life through music. Many revolutionary songs that have the President’s name have been sung, but the idea is not to idolise the person but celebrate his contributions, not only to our nation but the region and world at large,” she said.

Malinga said true celebration happens in someone’s face and applauded the initiative by contributors who came up with a commemorative photo book, “90, RG Mugabe”.

“When we were growing up, we read about Malcom X, Martin Luther King Jnr and many other influential black people. But we have our own hero, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, who is appreciated much more by people that are not even Zimbabwean,” she said.

Malinga said the acknowledgement should also be passed on to other great leaders in business, sports and religion, among other disciplines. She said musicians are important in society.

“May we never take them (musicians) for granted and relegate them to just entertainers. I hope also that our musicians realise the power that lies in their music. Music has been harnessed to promote patriotism, behavioural change and foster unity,” she said.

She urged players in the business community to invest in the music industry to foster its growth.